Our humble Christmas tree

This week has been super busy, finally starting to wash baby clothes and organize our new gadgets from the Baby Shower.  Luckily we got our Christmas tree earlier last week, and I'm so happy we got a winner.

The shape is perfect, the branches are firm and stiff, and it smells GLORIOUS. Much better than last year's tree, which was flimsy, had no smell, and started shedding as soon as we put it up. If I had anything to say, I'd wish it was a bit taller.... but we've made that mistake before and gotten one that was too tall so we made sure to avert that situation.  I always enjoy decorating the tree, but my back started hurting so I needed Kevin's assistance more this year.

Hanging one of my baby ornaments

Here's one of my favorite ornaments on the tree, from our Honeymoon 2010

Though I know next year we'll have plenty of Baby's 1sts to adorn the tree that will probably be my "favorite" :-). I cannot wait to start family traditions with the little one.

Our tree in all of its Glory

How can you not love this time of year? We're having a mini- cool front right now so I can actually open the windows and enjoy some "cold" weather! Yay!

Week 31, single digit weeks to go

This week Baby P is the size of a coconut.  She is weighing in a little over 3 pounds.  While she's about the length she will be when she is born, this is when she'll start to add on her fat! And I'm starting to feel it!

Best moment of the week: My Baby Shower! Duh! It was so special.  I was pretty nervous about the event, having all of those eyes staring at you open presents.  The idea of it (showers, in general) just seems so conceited to me. Nevertheless, Baby Pickett was indeed showered with all sorts of necessities.  Oohs and Aahs abound.  But I will get into that in further detail with pictures to come!

Movement:  Mainly jabs and what I would describe as thumps. She no longer looks "graceful" in there. My right rib cage is actually sore, as if someone had kicked me in the ribs...... wait a second!! ;-)

Pain: My back is perpetually hurting. Especially at the end of the day. My sciatica pain is on and off. Luckily, I haven't felt it too much the last few days.

Wedding Rings: Can you believe it? They are still loose! I guess I'm lucky to be able to wear my rings through most of my pregnancy because I feel so naked without them.

Sleep: Is it possible for me to say it feels like it's just getting worse and worse?  I guess it's my body trying to prep me for the sleepless nights ahead because laying down to take a nap has become almost inevitable.  I feel like a zombie mid- to late- afternoon everyday.

Other Oddities:  Pregnancy books will tell you that you can have change in the pigment of your skin due to hormones.  Luckily I haven't had them in places that they say are common (on your face!), but I just noticed this morning that I have a dark spot on my underarm.  It's so bizarre. They say it goes away after pregnancy. It doesn't bother me, and who knows how long it's been there anyway?!

Weight: I'm up 3 pounds from 2 weeks ago! Yikes!  Totaling 17 pounds since Day 1.

Cravings: I was incredibly happy that my Grandma made her BLT Potato Salad for the shower last weekend.... OMG.  It is heaven.  I am obsessed.  I may go get some right now just talking about it.

Looking forward to:  some cooler weather.  I know it's not baby related, but playing Christmas music while it's 80 degrees outside makes it super difficult to get into the spirit.

Week Look Back-- 10, 20, 30

So now that we're in the home stretch, I wanted to take a look and see where we've been!

While I've definitely felt slower and more tired, seeing my belly in the mirror or in a picture feels incredibly surreal.  There's no way that belly is attached to me! But I'll tell you what, I absolutely love it.  I love my Baby Bump. I am always rubbing it, and Baby P and I are always poking each other back and forth. I honestly foresee myself being one of those that will really miss it when it's gone.... ok, getting a little emotional, back to the Look Back!

This is just ridiculous to me.  When did my belly get this big? I say that as people repeatedly tell me how small my belly is, but that thing is huge to me!

It's so funny looking back at Week 10 and 20.  I was clearly MISERABLE in the first trimester (Week 10).  I just look tired and I can almost see "nauseous" written on my forehead.

Then I reminisce about the 2nd trimester (Week 20). Ahh those were the good old days.  I looked and felt like myself (though, don't ask Kevin... I'm sure he'd attest to my insanity). I wish I had planned ahead for this 3rd trimester exhaustion because I totally would have completed the nursery back then.

Then we're back to tired, lazy looking, no make-up Elyse... but at least she looks like she has an excuse as opposed to Week 10!

This sure has been a journey so far, and the pregnancy part is only (ALREADY) 3/4 of the way complete.  Followed by, The Big Event (L&D), and then that thing called The Rest of My Life.

Week 30 - I think it just hit me

Baby P is the size of a Head of Cabbage this week. She is approximately 3 pounds and roughly 15 inches long. Apparently from here on out she can gain up to a half a pound a week..... yikes! Maybe this is where I start getting jitters about squeezing her through my vagina!

There is so much wrong with this picture, my face, my hair, the lighting, the crooked frame... I'd prefer to do it over again. But I can't take back a couple of days of belly growth!!

Best moment of the week:  Thanksgiving!  It was a pretty long day with 2 Thanksgiving dinners, but I really enjoyed spending some quality time with some of my girl cousins... my 10-year-old cousin had her hand glued to my belly for a good hour feeling Baby go crazy in there. But I think everyone got their fair share of Belly Rubbing that wanted it! :-)

Cousins

Oh, and we worked some serious Black Friday magic (online, of course) and took care of a few necessities from the registry. Baby Steps (pun intended).

Movement: We've been lucky that Baby P has been relatively cooperative when family and friends want to feel her. It's always awkward when someone sticks their hand on your belly for the first time and nothing happens.  Luckily, most times I've encouraged someone to feel because she was moving they were able to feel her. She does some serious flopping around in there when she's super active so it's not tough to miss.

Fear this week: Not being ready for her. And I think it hit me because of the big 3-0.  I feel so behind with everything. Between the nursery and researching L&D and what to actually do with a newborn, I'm a bit overwhelmed.

Pain: In the last week I have been getting indigestion regularly after any "main" course. I've never really known what this sensation was until now.  I had to describe it to Kevin and he was like, Yup, Indigestion!. Fabulous.

Sleep: Getting worse.  Someone made the comment to me to enjoy sleep while I still had it..... well, I lost it SEVERAL months ago.  Up to pee 3-4 times a night, wide awake rolling back and forth occurs at least 7-8 times.  And that's just in my waking memory!

Looking forward to: My Baby Shower!! I've been helping my mom with decorating ideas, and my Grandma is making a few of my faves, so I'm SUPER SUPER excited for Saturday to get here. And, of course, to see some of my favorite people in the whole world!

Childbirth Prep course... check!

Last weekend Kevin and I completed our Childbirth Prep Course at HealthPark.  While typically these types of courses are split up into several once-a-week classes, they removed that option and now only offer it as a crash course 6-hour Saturday class. I actually heard that come the beginning of next year they are considering going 100% online, which I would NOT want.

We were originally scheduled to take this course the weekend before Christmas, but for some reason there was something in me that wanted to get it done early.  Before changing it, I made sure that it did not interfere with our game, and we were 100% NOT going to Tallahassee for the weekend (since we've always had a tendency to hop in the car and go). This momma-to-be has had enough of car traveling.  Class was 9:00-3:00, Florida State game 3:30.  PERFECT.

Coincidentally, I knew 2 other preggos in the class. Both I danced with growing up, and one of the couples being avid Florida State fans as well. We were in good company.

The instructor was an older lady who was so incredibly nice, had 30+ years experience, and had a little spunk.  I still can't get out of my mind that she told us one of the ways to get labor going is to go home and have "wild sex". I would definitely recommend getting your Doc's permission lol.  She was so precious it was hilarious.

I liked the structure of the course because we were given a workbook, but maybe opened it as a class twice throughout the day. So much better to have someone with hands-on experience give you applicable information than read through a workbook together.  You can look at the contents when you get home, but take advantage of "real life" questions while you're in the class. That's one reason why I'd hate taking it online.

The end of the class was capped off with a tour of the birthing wing, and the only picture I snapped the entire day.

Mostly I'd say the class as a whole was informative.  It definitely eased my nerves and also answered a lot of questions that I didn't even realize I had. I think Kevin enjoyed it and found it informative as well, which was almost more important to me since he will be in the driver seat come Baby P's decision to make her grand entrance.

Week 29: Yes, blue walls for a girl

I cannot believe this is our last week in the twenties (don't look at me, I've still got a couple of years left in them!).  I think I'm in denial. Baby is the size of a Butternut Squash, which is fitting since Thanksgiving is in a few days.

Wow do I look tired in this picture, probably because I am.  We were also working with some serious cloudiness, the sun was not cooperating whatsoever.

I've ranted about this before and have learned to deal with it to an extent. The "But you're so small/tiny/etc." comments can really get under my skin. This isn't directed at family and friends that are, in more or less words, telling me I look great for 7 months preggo, which can be read by their tone. What I'm referring to is strangers (or anyone) that has a sense of concern in their tone. Would you like a copy of my medical chart for your viewing pleasure???

Typically I reply with a, "Thanks, but I don't feel small!" because my belly is not small. FOR ME.  I had a stranger go bug-eyed at my belly telling me I looked 4 months, and the WAY she said it was genuinely offensive. It was as if she was searching for an explanation. Under pressure I proceed to tell people like this that it's my first and it's a little girl so she's tiny, but that's not the case. Baby P repeatedly clocks in well over the averages for size at our check-ups. I didn't realize being pregnant came with a lack of personal space AND an overdose of rude opinions. I can get through the parenting opinions, but at least be considerate. 11 weeks left. 11 weeks left.

Best moment this week:  Getting the nursery painted!! My wonderful mom and aunt came over and had this thing painted in less than a couple of hours. No joke!  It took a good 4 months of paint swatches taped on the walls to decide on a color, and it is exactly the shade I envisioned. (Picture is super bad quality and lighting, I'm sure I'll post better ones when the room starts coming together).

Now to decide on the layout of the room.... that won't come until we find a dresser we want. One step at a time.

Movement: Repetitive rib kicks.  They are more like massages because it literally feels like her little foot glides up and down my lowest right rib.  Sometimes I'll stick my hand there to act as a barrier.

Daddy moment:  In our usual bedtime routine (when she is by far her most active), Kevin said he witnessed the impression of her foot on my belly. I'm super jealous.  I can usually tell what's moving and where, but I haven't caught a foot outline yet.  

Daddy fell asleep with Baby P flopping around like crazy in there.

Pain: The sciatic pain is persistent. When I'm moving around it mostly just feels sore, but every once in a while it is a sharp jabbing pain that has me squatting to the floor in pain regardless of where I'm at.  I had to do a penguin shuffle out of TJ Maxx the other day.

Sleep: Same old, same old.  Difference is I'm falling asleep easier and easier at night because I am so damn tired when my head hits the pillow! My relentless tossing and turning takes a bit more time because rolling over is getting to be more difficult.

I did take my first daytime nap since the first trimester this week. Holy Cow did I need it, and I'm feeling the urge more and more every day.

Wedding rings: Yup, you guessed it, still falling off. I've been wearing them reversed with my band on the outside and my engagement ring on the inside, but they are both still super loose.

Fear this week: Reading that the 3rd trimester is the MOST IMPORTANT when it comes to nutrition and eating right. While I could tell myself "well, hey! I can start fresh from here!", it's just tougher than it seems. And I don't want to let her down!

Cravings:  It's so strange, I don't have any dramatic cravings for anything in particular that have Kevin running to the store in a frenzy. And let me tell you, I am typically the cravings type of gal. I have wanted California Pizza Kitchen REALLY REALLY badly over the last few months, but just haven't had the opportunity to make the 45 minute drive to the shopping center it's located at. Obviously it's not that powerful of a craving if I still have yet to fulfill it.

Looking forward to: Doctor's appointment tomorrow! I always get excited for them because I love the reassurance that everything is on track. And, it's the only time I find out my "updated" weight. Perfect timing to be just before Thanksgiving!!

Jacksonville Baby Shower

Last weekend we traveled to Jacksonville for our first Baby Shower hosted by Kevin's sisters and Mom.  It was intimate and incredibly special, just perfect for our Lil Princess. Of course, Cinderella themed.  Though I'm not sure if it's because our little one will love Cinderella or because I love Cinderella :-) (or because our whole family loves Disney!).

During the entire Registering process I began to get a bit disheartened, thinking there's no way we'll EVER be able to get all of the stuff that Baby P needs (forget about the "wants").  Well, this is obviously why people have showers. I never truly grasped the importance of buying stuff off someone's registry until now (more so for a baby shower than a wedding shower). My pregnancy has been extremely hormonal, but just the thought of people purchasing stuff just for Baby P has me very emotional. And seeing each item, every article of clothing, every baby sock, every diaper, makes me more grateful for our loved ones. And it definitely helps ease a bit (read: a lot) of the tension in this house being able to visualize it all coming together before she gets here. 

Kevin's sister was an incredible host and the decorations were so sweet and too perfect.

Trying my hand at guessing what exactly was in that diaper:

And I was so happy to be able to have Kevin join us to open the gifts because, quite franky, I'm not one for being the center of attention.  I get really nervous having people focus attention on me, so it was nice to be able to share it with Kevin.

That is literally a crate full of handmade headbands and headbows!!! Baby P definitely has a nice collection already... I was in headband heaven!

And The Cake. Oh The Cake. The Centerpiece in all its glory.  Let me tell you NONE of us wanted to cut into this thing.

But we did.  And it was delicious.
Here are a few more details from the event:

I am so grateful for my husband's family, who made me a part of their family from Day 1.
This event was fit only for a princess. Everyone's waiting for your Grand Entrance, Lil Princess!